Brandon welcomes two international doctors
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The City of Brandon is celebrating the arrival of two internationally trained physicians whose journeys to Westman were made possible through Canada’s rural immigration pathways, bringing a significant boost to local health-care capacity.
The city announced that Dr. Ifiok Etie Akpan has joined The Wellness Clinic in Brandon, bringing years of medical experience from both the United Kingdom and Nigeria. His wife, Dr. Thelma Adanu, is also preparing to contribute her expertise to the local workforce. City officials highlighted the speed of Akpan’s approval under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), noting his work permit was processed in under two weeks, a timeline that typically stretches from three to eight months.
“This success story shows Brandon’s commitment to supporting physicians who want to relocate and thrive here,” the city said in a statement, crediting collaboration between The Wellness Clinic, the City of Brandon, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The RCIP is a new federal economic immigration program launched earlier this year. It allows eligible rural communities to support foreign-trained workers in securing permanent residency, either by hiring new internationally trained professionals from abroad or helping current temporary workers transition to staying in Canada permanently.
Brandon was selected on Jan. 30 as one of just 14 communities nationwide, and one of three in Manitoba, to participate in the pilot. The city applied after its successful involvement in the earlier Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which helped bring several skilled professionals to Westman.
One of those earlier arrivals is now a familiar face in Brandon’s health-care system: Dr. Lonwabo Gqoli, a urologist originally from South Africa, who joined the Brandon Clinic under Prairie Mountain Health after immigrating through the RNIP stream.
Gqoli, who completed his medical degree in 2004 and his urology specialization in 2015, has settled in Brandon with his wife and two children. Outside of work, he’s an avid squash player and has been connecting with the local sports community.
The city continues to encourage health-care professionals with experience in the U.K., New Zealand, Australia, or the United States to consider relocating through the RCIP.
» Winnipeg Sun